Container finish and closure cap construction



1966 J. J. MOLONEY ETAL 3,285,452

CONTAINER FINISH AND CLOSURE CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 27, 1965 5 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTORS JOHN .1. MOLONEY CHARLES N. FOSTER fiAMjXM ATT YS.

1966 J. J. MOLONEY ETAL 3,285,452

CONTAINER FINISH AND CLOSURE CAP CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOHN J. MOLONEY CHARLES N. FOSTER Filed Sept. 27, 1965 ATT'YS.

1956 J. J. MOLONEY ETAL 3,

CONTAINER FINISH AND CLOSURE CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 27, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 38 f 32 I l A l 38 30 3| 32 Z ll I ll l l Fr] 37 J) 1 1 1 3 42 4 3 23 INVENTORS JOHN J. MOLONEY CHARLES N. FOSTER BY 1M afiuwwg \QZNMM]! i 0 m'r'vs.

United States Patent 3,285,452 CONTAINER FINISH AND CLOSURE CAP CONSTRUCTION John J. Moloney, Chicago, and Charles N. Foster, Oak

Park, Ill., assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,311 13 Claims. (Cl. 21540) This invention relates to a novel closure assembly and more specifically is directed to a new and improved container and closure cap adapted to co-operate with the same.

In its broadest sense, the present invention is directed to a new and improved container finish having a plurality of groove-like formations in the upper portion of the container finish. Each of the groove-like formations is provided with cam-like means which extend between a bottom portion of the groove-like formations and the upper surface forming the container mouth. A closure cap having a shell of generally complementary shape is received over the container finish and suitable means provided to co-operate with the cam-like means in the finish whereby rotation of the cap in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction will cause a lifting movement of the cap relative to the finish. The co-operating cam follower means formed in the closure cap may consist of a complementary cam-like surface formed in the gasket compound lining the closure shell.

Press-on type caps have found wide acceptance in the packaging industry because of their desirability from the closure application standpoint. From the consumer standpoint, those which require a tool to pry or hook the cap off to use the contents have not been as popularly received by the consumer as the lug and screw type caps. Consumers find pry-off type caps objectionable because they are generally more difficult to remove than the conventional screw and lug type caps. Nevertheless, presson type caps have still continued to be used for various reasons, mainly the package security, economy and ease of application,

The present invention is directed to a new and improved closure assembly consisting of a closure cap and container finish in which the closure cap may be applied by a press-on type operation and subsequently easily removed by rotation in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Suitable cam-like means is formed and can be shaped to permit uni-directional or bi-directional removal. The cam-like means is arranged in such a pattern on the container finish that undetectable replacement is improbable once the closure cap has been removed. Accordingly, if caps have been tampered with, it will become obvious to the grocers they are loose and they may remove the item from the shelf or customers baskets before sale. If, for some reason, they are sold without being detected, the looseness of the cap will alert the user that the package is suspect.

Due to the novel placement of the cam-like formations, a seal of substantial length may be provided, ex-

tending from the lower extremity of the container finish along an uninterrupted circumferential portion to the upper rim and radially inwardly to the periphery defining the container mouth. In this manner, the shock resistance of the completed assembly of cap and container is enhanced, and the container becomes more easily manufactured since defects in the finish can be tolerated as they can be compensated for by the novel cap. A lesser number of defects will occur in manufacture because of the simplicity of the shape of the finish, while a greater flexibility in the overall container design is also presented. Other advantages will become apparent when the objects and a detailed description are considered.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved closure assembly which may be formed by a press-on operation between a closure cap and container, and the closure cap subsequently removed by the consumer by a rotational motion.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved container finish for co-operation with a novel cap construction which permits the formation of a long axial length seal between the container finish and closure cap.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved container having a finish provided with a plurality of asymmetrical cam-like means for co-operation with complementary cam means carried by a closure cap both of which serve to permit ready detection of tampering.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new and improved closure cap for use with a container finish which improves the resistance of the closure assembly to shocks, impacts and the like.

Further objects will become readily apparent when reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container finish embodying the principles of the present invention with the lower portion of the container broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the container finish of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container finish of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary developed side elevational view of the upper half of the container finish;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5 taken along the lines 6 6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the lines 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is across sectional view of one form of closure cap adapted for use with the container finish shown in FIGS. 1-7;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the closure cap of FIG. 8 applied to the container finish shown in FIGS. 1-7 with the lower portion of the container omitted;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 having a modified form of finish; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a modified form of closure cap and finish.

In FIG. 1, a fragmentary portion of a container 10 is provided with an annular necked-in portion 11 defining the lower margin of a container finish 12, while the upper extremity of the finish 12 is defined by a generally radially extending, axially facing annular surface 13. The ring-like surface 13 terminates at the inner pehiphery in an annular container mouth 14, which may be of any desired design or dimension.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-4, a plurality of groove-like formations 1519 are formed at the upper extremity of the container finish 12 and have one side opening into the ring-like surface 13. Each of the groove-like formations '15-19 is provided with a bottom portion 219 and upwardly inclined cam-like means extending in opposite directions from the bottom portion 20 to the annular ring-like surface 13. The bottom portion and cam-like means may be of arcuate shape, joined by radiused portions or the like. The groove-like formations 15-19 may be asymmetrically arranged to prevent undetected reapplication of a co-operating closure cap as will be described in conjunction with FIG. 9.

As seen in FIG. 2, the container finish 12 has over-all contour of being frusto-conical shape 23 increasing in diameter between the ring-like surface 13 and a point adjacent the neck 11, where a generally cylindrical section 24 is formed. Of course, the portion of the container between the top 13 and the maximum diameter 24 may be formed to configurations other than the frusto-conical shape shown. The circumferential surface of the frusto-conical section and cylindrical section is uninterrupted except for the groove-like formations 15-19 at the upper margin. Each of the groove-like formations 15-19 are of like design so like references have been used to indicate like parts.

Referring now to FIGS. -7, the cross section construction of each of the cam-like formations in the groove-like formation 17 as well as the contour of the uninterrupted portion of the container finish may be appreciated. The groove-like formation 17 is provided with the usual flat bottom 20 which through a radiused section 27 joins a generally vertically disposed or axially extending wall 25 disposed radially inward of the circumferential portion 23 of the container finish 12.

A cross sectional view taken through one of the camlike inclined portions is seen in FIG. 6, where the axial height of the wall 25 diminishes as the inclined surface 22 progresses towards the annular ring-like surface or ring 13. In FIG. 7, the groove-like formation 17 is no longer preesnt and the wall thickness from the mouth 14 to the circumferential surface 23 provides an uninterrupted radial surface 13 joined at the inner and outer peripheries to two radiused portions 28 and 29.

The container with its simplified form of container finish is readily manufactured and as will become apparent when the various forms of co-operating closure cap are described, 'need not be held to extremely accurate tolerances in the formation of the cam-like means in the grooves -19. The finish shown in of a generally frustoconical shape and may be of a sufiiciently thick radial wall section that will permit high speed forming techniques to be employed as any resulting minor imperfections and defects may be readily compensated for later in the forming and application of the closure cap to complete the closure assembly.

In FIG. 8 a diametric cross-section of a closure cap is illustrated at 30 including the usual top panel 31 containing a depressed central portion or stacking panel 32 which results in the formation of a gasket channel 33 bounded on its outer periphery by depending skirt 34. The skirt may be of a smooth uninterrupted design terminating at its lower edge in a curled end 35 to trim and rigidify the cap. A coating or layer of gasket material 36 extends from covering the raw edge of the curl 35 upwardly along the inner circumferential surface 37 of the skirt 34 substantially filling the gasket channel 33, and terminates radially inwardly of the shoulder 38 formed by the stacking panel 32.

Prior to assembly on a container finish, the gasket material in the channel 33 presents a radially extending surface 40 adapted to be reformed to 'by entry of the rim of the finish and associated groove-like formations 15-19 into the gasket channel 33 to the shape of the latter. Ihe gasket may be formed of any desired material so long as the properties of the same are suited for the application and function described. For example, various types of plastisols, foamed polyurethane or polyethylene, synthetic rubber and the like or any other material which will exhibit the required flow and set properties can be used. Where heat may be employed, the gasket materials may include plastisized polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene, hot melts or the like as the basis of the compounds, with only the restriction noted above being applicable.

The closure cap of FIG. 8 is pressed onto a container of the type shown and described in FIGS. 1-7 with the completed closure assembly shown in cross section in FIGS. 9 and 10. During formation of the closure assembly, the container 10 may be evacuated and the closure cap 30 pressed on with a downward motion with or without intentional rotation. When the cap is finally seated so that the upper rim 13 has reformed the radial surface 40, the gasket material 36 between the skirt 34 and circumferential surface 23 of the container finish will be extruded a slight amount to fill any voids or imperfections in the finish as well as entering each of the groove-like formations 15-19. When the gasket material has entered the groove and is of the necessary firmness, the follower means 42 is thus formed and may then co-operate with the upwardly inclined cam means in each of the groovelike formations 15-19 to permit cap removal by rotation in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. 0bviously, if it is desired that rotation be limited to one direction or the other, only a single upwardly inclined cam means need be provided.

It can be appreciated from consideration of FIGS. 9 and 10 that when the closure assembly is complete, a seal of substantial length is provided extending from the lower curled portion 35 of the skirt of the closure cap 30 along the circumferential surface 23 of the finish 12 and radially inwardly of the container mouth 14. The generous length of the gasket not only protects the container contents from oxygen and gas permeation, but also serves as a cushion to absorb and dampen impacts to the closure cap.

Since the space between the closure cap 30 and finish 12 is filled or substantially filled, all foreign material in the form of mold, insects, dirt, and the like which could be drawn into the container by the vacuum when the cap is removed, is excluded.

When an asymmetrical arrangement of the groove-like formations 15-19 is provided as in FIGS. 1-4, a fully seated replacement of the cap 30 requires almost precise orientation of the cap relative to the finish. In this manner if the closure assembly has been tampered with, as often occurs in the market place, even though replaced and the closure cap covers the greater part of the finish, it will be readily discernible to store personnel that the container has been opened as the cap will be loose and the merchandise may be retrieved before a sale of the same is complete. The probability of proper replacement is thus controlled by the asymmetrical arrangement.

The closure cap shown in FIGS. 8-10 is illustrated in an enlarged half section in FIG. 11 applied to a modified form of container finish 52 having a circumferential portion 53 of frusto-conical shape terminatingits lower end in a second frusto-conical surface 54 which converges to- Ward the neck 11. Groove-like formations 55 are formed around the upper margin of the finish 52 and may be of a construction shown in FIGS. 1-7, outlines the cam surfaces corresponding toFIGS. 6 and 7 are superimposed on the full-lined section as indicated by the phantom lines at 57 and 58.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11 the co-operative relaionship between the closure cap 30 and the finish is identical to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-10 insofar as application and removal is concerned. In FIG. 11, however, on application to the container, the gasket compound 36 adjacent the curl 35 is flowed inwardly as at 60 to assist in retaining the cap securely on the container finish. Sufficient resiliency exists in the gasket 36 whereby the inwardly extending tapered portion 60 can be deformed when the cap is rotated relative to the finish 52 to effect removal.

Another form of closure assembly 61 including a closure cap 62 co-operating with the container finish 63 is illustrated in FIG. 12. The closure cap may include the usual gasket channel 64 and skirt 65. The lower margin of the skirt 65 is formed with the usual curl 66. Since the container finish 63 is cylindrical, the skirt 65 is shortened so that the axial lift provided by the gasket compound 67 camming against can surfaces the groove-like formations 68 is sutficient to lift the side seal clear to break the vacuum in the container 70.

The groove-like formations 68 are of a construction of the type shown in FIGS. l-9 and may be provided at either symmetric or asymmetric intervals around the upper margin of the cylindrical finish 63 depending on requirements. Obviously, the axial length of the container finish 63 may be shortened so that the curl 66 is adjacent the neck 71.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the curled end of the skirt may be deformed into the annular neck portion if desired to provide additional retention. It is contemplated that the metal used in the shell will be lightweight and of sufiicient resilience to readily yield when the closure cap is rotated for removal.

Upon a consideration of the foregoing, it will become obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the invention embodied herein. Therefore, only such limitation should be imposed as are indicated by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A closure assembly comprising a closure cap including a top panel and skirt, a gasket compound lining the skirt and at least a portion of the underside of said top panel, a container having a finish adapted to receive said closure cap, said container finish terminating at its upper margin in a container mouth, a radially extending uninterrupted ring-like surface portion adjacent said mouth, camlike means opening upwardly adjacent said ring-like surface portion, and cam follower means of a generally complementary configuration formed in said gasket compound in said closure cap and co-operating with said cam-like means adjacent said radially extending ring-like surface portion whereby relative rotation of said closure cap relative to said container results in relative axial movement between said container finish and said closure cap.

2. The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein said camlike means opening upwardly into said ring-like surface are asymmetrically disposed to make fully seated replacement of said closure cap difficult once removal has been effected.

3. A closure assembly comprising a container having a finish symemtrical with respect to a central axis, said finish being of frusto-conical contour terminating at its upper end portion in an annular axially facing surface defining a container mouth, said annular axially facing surface having inner and outer peripheries, a plurality of groove-like formations interrupting said annular axially facing surface at spaced intervals along one periphery and terminating short of the other periphery, cam means formed in each of said groove-like formations, a closure cap adapted to be received on said container and having a skirt portion overlying said container finish, gasket means interposed between said closure cap and said container finish, a plurality of cam followers formed in said gasket means in said closure cap and being adapted to cooperate with said cam means in said groove-like formations on rotation of said cap relative to said finish to cause lifting of said closure cap relative to said finish.

4. The closure assembly of claim 3 wherein said groovelike formations are asymmetrically arranged to discourage complete re-application of said closure cap once it has been removed.

5. A closure cap particularly adapted for press-on type application to a container, said closure cap including a top panel and a depending skirt portion, said top panel portion having a depress center portion forming a gasket channel adjacent said skirt portion, said skirt portion being of generally frusto-conical shape and terminating in a curled end portion, a layer of reformable gasket material filling said channel and extending downwardly along an inner circumferential surface of said skirt portion to said curled portion, said layer of reformable gasket material being adapted for co-operation with a smooth generally frusto-conical container finish, and a plurality of cam follower means formed in said gasket material in the region of said gasket channel after application to said container finish.

6. A closure assembly comprising a container having a container finish closed off by a closure c ap, said container finish having an uninterrupted circumferential portion defined at its upper extremity by an annular rim portion forming an axially facing surface having inner and outer peripheries, an annular neck portion defining the lower extremity of said circumferential portion, a plurality of groove-like formations interrupting a portion of said axially facing surface along one of said peripheries at angularly spaced intervals, each of said groove-like formations having at least one cam-like surface formed therein which extends upwardly to said axially facing surface, said closure cap having a top panel portion covering said axially facing surface and a skirt portion extending from adjacent said axially facing surface over said container finish toward said annular neck portion on sad container, gasket means interposed between said closure cap and said container finish, and a plurality of cam follower formations in said gasket means, each of said cam follower formations being received in said groove-like formations for co-operation with said cam means on rotation of said cap relative to said finish thereby to cause a lifting of said closure cap relative to said finish to effect removal of said closure cap.

7. The closure assembly of claim 6 wherein the finish portion immediately adjacent said annular neck portion is provided with a frusto-conical section converging towards said neck portion to receive said gasket means and resiliently retain said closure cap on said container finish.

8. The closure assembly of claim 6 wherein said container finish is of generally frusto-conical contour and merges with a generally right cylindrical section adjacent said annular neck portion.

9. The closure assembly of claim 6 wherein said camlike surface in said groove-like formations is symmetrically arranged relative to said annular rim portion.

10. The closure assembly of claim 6 wherein said circumferential portion is of uniform cylndrical shape and said skirt :portion has an axial length approximtaing the lift of said cam means.

11. A closure assembly including a closure cap and a container having a finish to receive said closure cap, said container finish terminating at its lower extremity in an annular neck portion and at its upper extremity in an annular radially extending rim-like surface having inner and outer peripheries, a plurality of groove-like formations interrupting said rim-like surface along one of said peripheries, each of said groove-like formations having at least one cam surface therein opening onto said rim-like surface, said closure c-ap covering said rim-like surface and having an annular skirt portion extending along said finish and terminating adjacent said annular neck portion thereby to define an annular space between said finish and said skirt portion, and gasket means filling said annular space and extending inwardly along an underside of said closure cap and downwardly along said container finish a suflicient distance to overlie said inner periphery and said groove-like formations to fill the same to form co-opcrating cam surfaces whereby rotation of said closure cap relative to said container will cause relative axial movement therebetween permitting removal of said closure cap.

7 8 12. The closure assembly of claim 11 wherein said References Cited by the Examiner plurality of groove:like formations are asymmetrically FOREIGN PATENTS arranged around said rlm-like surface.

13. The closure assembly of claim 11 wherein said 54943O 11/1957 Canadacontainer finish is provided with a converging frusto- 5 404951 1/1934 Great Britain conical portion adjacent said annular neck portion and said gasket means cont acts said taper to assist in (retaining JOSEPH LECLAIR Primary Exammer' said closure cap on said container. D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,285,452 November 15, 1966 John J. Moloney et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 4, for "overall" read over-all column 3, line 12, after "being" insert of column 4, lir 7, for "compounds" read compound column 5, line 11, for "can" read cam same line 11, after "surfaces" insert in column 6, line 30, for "sad" read said lines 48 and 49, for "symmetrically" read asymmetrically Signed and sealed this 12th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER 

1. A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CLOSURE CAP INCLUDING A TOP PANEL AND SKIRT, A GASKET COMPOUND LINING THE SKIRT AND AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TOP PANEL, A CONTAINER HAVING A FINISH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID CLOSURE CAP, SAID CONTAINER FINISH TERMINATING AT ITS UPPER MARGIN IN A CONTAINER MOUTH, A RADIALLY EXTENDING UNINTERRUPTED RING-LIKE SURFACE PORTION ADJACENT SAID MOUTH, CAMLIKE MEANS OPENING UPWARDLY ADJACENT SAID RING-LIKE SURFACE PORTION, A CAM FOLLOWER MEANS OF A GENERALLY COMPLEMENTARY CONFIGURATION FORMED IN SAID GASKET COMPOUND IN SAID CLOSURE CAP AND CO-OPERATING WITH SAID CAM-LIKE MEANS ADJACENT SAID RADIALLY EXTENDING RING-LIKE SURFACE PORTION WHEREBY RELATIVE ROTATION OF SAID CLOSURE CAP RELATIVE TO SAID CONTAINER RESULTS IN RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER FINISH AND SAID CLOSURE CAP. 